Water correction device



June 15, 1943. BUTLER WATER CORRECTION DEVICE Filed June 10, 1940 2 Edyarm.BuZZer Patented June 15, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My present invention relates to the art of water purification and especially to devices for prevent-v ing scale formation in boilers, vessels and water systems in which the water is subject to wide. temperature differentials.

Primarily the invention has for an object to provide a device for the purpose stated of a compact nature which may be economically manufactured, and one which will effectively serve its intended purpose.

Further, the invention has for an object to provide a device for the purpose above referred to, which is in the form of a biscuit, i. e., has a case of a flat globular form.

Further. it is an object to provide a water correction device of the self-energizing kind, whose positive element is the case, the case being made of two halves having inter-projecting flanges with large water passages and between which a group of negative elements are symmetrically disposed andheld in place by suitable lugs on. the case halves and by cross bolts which secure the case halves together and in tight physical and good electrical contact with the ends of the several negative elements.

A further object is to provide a device of the character stated wherein the several negative elements are separate from one another and may individually be replaced when desired.

Further, it is an object to provide means whereby the device may be secured to boiler tubes or similar structures and well insulated therefrom.

Other objects will'in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and indicate like parts in all the figures, I. represents the lower half of the case, the bottom 2 of which is provided with'side lugs 5 to cooperate with end lugs 6 on the extensions {in holding two cipitate that may form within the case can flow arrangement of parts, all of which will be first fully described in the following detailed description, and then be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one of my devices secured to two boiler flue-tubes.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device looking from right to left in Fig. l. 1

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the device per se.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the lower half of the case with a set of negative blocks in place.

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.,

Bosses 8 are formed on the under side of the bottom 2 and are apertured, as at I5, for the passage of bolts 25 having nuts for clamping the parts of the device in assembled relation.

The bottom 2 has a recess in its bottom formed bythe inwardly projected part 9. Into the recess thus formed is placed a block In of suitable insulation. The block III is apertured, as at l2, for the passage of a clamp bolt 29 and is secured in place by bent-over lugs H. The part .8 is .also apertured as at 13 to permit passage of the bolt 29 without its touching the metal of the case.

Apertured wings I project from the annular wall of the lower half of the case so that several units may be secured together when desired.

Suitably spaced lugs IS on the projection 9. and IT on the bottom 2, are arranged in groups to receive between them the blocks 33 which constitute the negative element of the device. These blocks are preferably formed of hardened, rolled or drawn, metallic substance such as zinc (the preferable metal used), bismuth, lead, tin, aluminum, antimony, used singly or in whatever combination with one another or with mercury may be found'necessary to produce the most eflicient result under the varying conditions of water, steam-pressure, heat transfer, etc. The positive element (case) is preferably made of copper and may be cast metal. It is essential, however, to the greatest efllciency that the negative element be not cast, but rolled or drawn metal so as to reduce its porosity as much as possible and thus prevent the electrolyte from entering the body of the negative element and insuring that it be dissolved from the outer surface inwardly and not from the interior outwardly, which would cause blisters to form and I the electrode to corrode.

The upper half II of the case fits on the lower half. The annular walls of the two halves have alternate recesses and projections 32- whereby the two parts may be said to interengage and thus prevent rotation of the one with respect to the other about their common axis.

The annular wall of the upper half of the case is provided with enlarged openings 22 and 21 for water circulation.

Lugs l9 and'2ll on the inside of the upper half ll of the case are spaced to correspond with the lugs ll, i6 respectively of the lower half I of the case, to flt over the upper ends of the negative blocks 22 when the parts are assembled.

The upper half of the case -also has an inward projection 2|, similar to the projection 2, on which the lugs are located and which forms a recess or seat for a second block of insulation 22 that is held in place by bendable lugs 22 and which has a hole for the passage of bolt 22. A winged nut 30 on bolt 29 bears against insulation block 22 when clamp 22 is used to secure the device to boiler tubes T.

In assembling the parts, the blocks 22 of negative material, cut to equal lengths, are set into the spaces provided between the lugs i6, ll of a group in the lower half of the case; the upper half is then fitted over the blocks 22 and the lower half of the case, and secured by the bolts whose nuts are drawn as tightly as possible to ensure the best obtainable physical and electrical contact between the end faces of the blocks 22 and the upper and lower parts of the case I, ii. The pressure or squeeze obtained throughthe bolts and nuts (25) may be augmented by the clamp, 28, 29, 30 when the device is to be anchored to the boiler tubes T.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that: the capacity of the unit is great for a given volume of space occupied in the boiler, vessel, circulating system, etc.; that the size of the unit will depend in large measure on the number of negative blocks 22 employed; that, by arranging the openings l as shown, clo fiing of the device by precipitate or sludge is avoided; that to replace consumed negative blocks 22 is a simple matter and the positive case can be used indefinitely; and that the device is well insulated from the structure by which it is supported or to which it is clamped.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is thought the construction, operation and advantages of the present invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. In a self-energizing electrolytic water correction device, a case of electro-positive, metal formed of an upper cup-like member and a lower cup-like member, said members having annular rims, provided with enlarged openings for circulation of electrolyte, said upper and lower case members each having inwardly projected sets of lugs, those of the lower member cooperating with those ofthe upper member, a plurality of electronegative blocks-held between said upper and said lower case members with their ends embraced by said lugs and their end faces in contact with said upper and lower case members and held in spaced relation by said lugs, and means to secure the case members together and apply a compression force endwise against said negative blocks.

2. In a self-energizing electrolytic water correction device, a case of electro-positive metal formed of an upper cup-like member and a lower cup-like member, said members having annular rims with interprojected portions, provided with enlarged openings for circulation of electrolyte.

said upper and lower case members each having inwardly projected sets of lugs, those of the lower member cooperating with those of the upper member, a plurality of electro-negative blocks held between said upper and said lower case members with their ends embraced'by said lugs and their end faces in contact with said upper and lower case members and held in'spaced relation by said lugs, and means to secure the case members together and apply a compression force endwise against said negative blocks.

3. In a self-energizing electrolytic water correction device, a case of electro-positive metal formed of an upper cup-like member and a lower cup-like member, said members having annular rims, provided with enlarged openings for circulation of electrolyte, the lower cup-like member having its openings positioned so as to drain the bottom of the case, said upper and lower case members each having inwardly projected sets of lugs, those of the lower member cooperating with those of the upper member, a pluralitygof electro-negative blOOks held between said upper and said lower case members with their ends embraced by said lugs and their end faces in contact with said upper and lower case members and held in spaced relation by said lugs, and

means to secure the case members together andapply a compression force endwise against said negative blocks. I

4. In a self-energizing electrolytic water correction device, a case of electro positive metal formed of an upper cup-like member and a lower cup-like member. said members having annular rims, provided with enlarged openings for circulation of electrolyte, said upper and lower case members each having inwardly projected sets of relation by said lugs, means to secure the case members together and apply a compression force endwise against said negative blocks, the lower case member on its bottom having spaced rows of lugs, and bars of insulation held by said rows of ugs.

5. In a self-energizing electrolytic water cor- I rection device, a case of electro-positive metal formed of an upper cup-like member and a lower cup-like member, said members having annular rims, provided with enlarged openings for circulation of electrolyte, said upper and lowercase members each having inwardly projected, sets of lugs, those of the lower member cooperating with those of the upper member, a plurality of electronegative blocks held between said upper and said lugs, bars of insulation held by said rows of'lugs, said case having top and bottom openings, and.

insulating blocks secured in said upper and lower case members across said openings and apertured to receive a clamp bolt.

6. In a self-energizing electrolytic water correction device, a case of electro-positive metal formed of an upper cup-like member and a lower cup-like member, said members having annular rims, provided with enlarged openings for circulation at electrolyte, said upper and lower case members each'having inwardly projected sets of lugs, those of the lower member cooperating with those of the upper member, a plurality of electronegative blocks held between said upper and said lower case members with their ends embraced by said lugs and their end faces in contact with said upper and lower case members and held in spaced relation by said lugs, and means to secure the case members together and apply a compression force endwise against said negative blocks, said last named means comprising bolts with nuts passing through bolt holes in the case clear of said negative elements.

7. In a self-energizing electrolytic water correction device, a case of electro-positive metal formed of an upper cup-like member and a lower cup-like member, said members having annular rims, provided with enlarged openings for circulation of electrolyte, said upper and lower case members each having inwardly projected sets 01' lugs, those of the lower member cooperating with those of the upper member, a plurality of electronegative blocks held between said upper and said.

lower case members with their ends embraced by said lugs and their end faces in contact with said upper and lower case members and held in spaced relation by said lugs, and means to secure the case members together and apply a compression force endwise against said negative blocks, the bottom of said lower case member being vflat inside the case and the openings in the annular rim of said lower case member having their lower edges flush with said bottom by virtue of which precipitate forming within the case will now freely out through said last named openings.

8. In a self-energizing electrolytic water correction device,' a case of electro-positivemetal formed 01'. an upper cup-like member and a lower cup-like member, saidJmembers having annular rims, provided with enlarged openings for circulation of electrolyte, said upper and lower case members each having inwardly projected sets of lugs, those of the lower member cooperating with those of the upper member, a plurality of electronegative blocks held between said upper and said lower case members with their ends embraced by said lugs and their end faces in contact with said upper and lower case members and held in spaced relation by said lugs, and means to secure the case members together and apply a compression force endwise against said negative blocks, said upper and lower case members having inwardly depressed apertured portions forming recesses, and apertured insulation blocks held in said recesses. said means including a clamp bolt passing through said apertured insulating blocks.

9. In a self-energizing electrolytic water correction device, a case of electro-positive metal formed of an upper cup-like member and a lower cup-like member, said members having annular rims, provided with enlarged openings for circulation of electro1yte,'said upper, and lower case members each having inwardly projected sets of lugs, those 0! the lower member cooperating with those of the upper member, a plurality of electronegative blocks held between said upper and said lower case members with their ends embraced by saidlugs and their end faces in contact with said upper and lower case members and held in spaced relation by said lugs, and means to secure the case members together and apply a compression force endwise against said negative blocks, said upper and lower case members having inwardly depressed apertured portions forming recesses, and

, apei'tured'insulation blocks held in said recesses.

certain of said lugs being located on said depressed portions of the case, said means including a clamp bolt passing through said apertured insulating blocks.

EDGAR M. BUTIER. 

